Please can someone suggest how to make this childproof?! We have wracked our brains and cannot come up with a solution. That is our lounge with a fairly low half wall to the stairs. Its a long drop and I'm losing sleep worrying. Thanks!!

A decent carpenter should be able to take it out and replace with proper height banister, like many houses have at the top of the stairs on a landing or hallway. You could choose to have it boxed in like it is currently to make a wall or leave it with the spindles open. Either way having climbable things next to it is not a good idea.

You could use a baby gate to child proof those stairs A properly installed baby gate will not only protect your child but limit their access to the steps as well. For easy footing regularly remove the obstacles and eliminate throw rugs if you have any. If you have any spills clean it up immediately and make sure that you prevent the child from walking on the wet floors. I found a blog from think protection that mentions some tips on child proofing your home www.thinkprotection.com/blog/secure-home/6-ways-new-parents-can-secure-their-homes/ . I hope that you find it useful. Most importantly just keep the stairs free of clutter or you will invite stumbling if you keep them lying on the stairs.

Insane idea - extendable shower rails , a few of them. Very tightly installed, To block off major sections of the low wall, you could get plain white ones quite cheap from online stores, and prettify them with fairy lights to prevent attractiveness of leaning!!! Or touching - And stair gate.Ignore suggestion as permanent solution but because you are renting it takes ages sometimes for changes to be made. Staircases do have a heck load of regulations that you can see online too if landlord doesn't help